Hello. I own a 2 year old pitbull/mix and rescued him when he was ~8months old. He was tied outside on a 10 ft rope and laying in his on feces. I crated him for 6 months in the garage and he did fine. The crate is the largest one they had, since I used it for my first dog which was a husky and he was very tall. So there is alot of room to move around and lay down. He managed to eventually sneak out of the crate, but didn't do anything. Eventually, I trusted him outside the crate when I wasn't home and he did fine, no chewing at all. He has 5 different kinds of rawhides and a ton of toys. Well, recently last month there was a dramatic change in his personality. He started chewing everything in site and started to chew on ceramic things. So I started back to square one and put him back in his crate. Well, now he has eaten the whole bottom of his crate and eaten up my rug. Found out that he could escape through the bottom. When he did, he did not chew on anything and would just hide in the bedroom under the bed. I know he was abused severally before I had him. When I am home, he is a perfect angel. I tie him outside to a 35 foot leash. The one neighbor doesn't like him because he barks and has reported me once already. I had reinforced the bottom with part of an exercise pen. He pants frantically and I've tried the anti depression medicine for a month, without seeing a single improvement. I have bricks around his crate and one 53lb brick inside his crate. He knows how to move the crate and the crate itself is getting beat up from his strong jaws. I tried wearing him out with long walks extra play and sticking bones and old socks in his crate. He doesn't want to do anything with them. He loves his rawhides when he is out of the crate and does chew on them. Someone suggested getting bones without the marrow and boiling them, then stuffing them with peanut butter and freezing them. Then give him one to associate him to licking instead of chewing to get the peanut butter out. He is a hyper dog, but I had a husky that was more hyper then this pitbull. My dog is not full pitbull, I think he may have shepard him him also. He is good with people and if very playful. This behavior just started in the last two months. I had taken him to the Sussex County Fair in August and he had escaped out of the room, and I couldn't catch him. He just kept running away. I had to eventually drive to where he was and he did jump in the car. I think something clicked in his head and he had escaped before that now he is frantically trying to figure out how to get out again. I love him and I am trying not to give up on him. My first dog I had crated for three years, before he was trusted. I know this dog, I may have to crate him for the rest of his life, but I want him to stop freaking out in his cage. This morning I went in the kitchen and heard him growling, went to look in at him and saw him grabbing the crate with his teeth growling and yanking at the bars. I hollered at him and he did stop. I've tried crating him at night, but that didn't work and only made him not want to come in the house. He didn't want to come in and would cower and not come when I called him. So he is free at night in the house and just hides halfway under my side of the bed and doesn't chew on anything except his own rawhide toys. I praise him when he does and he acts normally. I would leave him outside, but I'm afraid the neighbor would complain. I am not sure what to do to make being crated not a bad thing for him. I also own a pot-bellied piggy, which he doesn't mind at all and if the piggy doesn't want to be bothered, he will go after the dog. I never leave them loose alone together when I'm not home. The piggy is better trained than my doggy and doesn't chew. He is in the garage and the dog is in the crate. He can see the piggy and the cat for company, since he pretty much grew up around them for over a year. Thought that would relax him if he could see other animals. I had him in the living room, but it was just worse, when he ate right through the bottom crate and ate my living room carpet, then used to walk the crate around. I tried using melenton, but got an adverse affect which made him more hyper in the cage. I tried Nycol to see if it would help relax him. That worked for a bit and did stop him from panting, but then tried the vet medicine. No improvement. I want to take him to obedience school, but it costs to much money and I really think that it won't solve the problem at home.

So any suggestions, would be great and thank you very much for taking the time to read this. I am hoping someone else has had this problem and gotton a useful solution or help the situation out.
Thanks again!

Pricilla M
It seems you will have to start all over, the crate should be a place of rest/safety like his den. In some way we have changed his view of the crate he now sees it as a place to be locked in and he has succefully escaped from it. So its going to hard to change his views.

I'd start with one of the large metal crates that has a view of 360 degrees, it doesn't look like the plastic ones so he may not relate it. This time keep the gate open, until he starts going in on his own, place a kong and his blanket inside, maybe even start feeding inside. Never force him inside, if he does something and makes it inside his crate never force him out to discpline him or shout at him. He safe there, once this is establish you can start closing the gate.

Being that when he is out he doesn't chew up anything this can be done slowly. He sounds like he kinda want to be close to you. Then he sounds like he hasn't adjusted well to your rules, and maybe you are to nice to him since he was abused.
I'd still make him go through obedeince drills 4-5 a week about 5-15 minutes a week. I mention this because it obvious he has a problem with his recall. You should never chase your dog, its a game that only he can win or lose at if he gets hit by a car.

So I suggest the new metal kennel, make it his home as mentioned.

And 2 start OB training, he been training U, its time to flip the strip, read him your rules.
This just MO.

Thanks for getting back to me. The crate is a large metal see-through crate. It just had a plastic tray bottom. That is what he ate. I tried feeding him in his crate and he got in and ate. He has all sides he can view. I tried leaving a cozy blanket and he just rips it in shreds. And yes, he doesn't chew when I'm there, its only when I am not there. He will pick stuff off the kitchen counters on what he wants to chew and drag it into the living room and chew it. The problem is I still have to go to work and I can not trust him outside his crate, since I moved it into the garage. I'd move it into my kitchen, but the crate is too large. And in theliving room he literally ate through the carpet. And I am not letting him roam around free among my pot-bellied piggy. Too risky. I did try feeding him in his crate and he did eat his food in there. I will try feeding him again in his crate with the door open. I never have yelled at if he went in the crate. This morning, I led him to the garage and pointed in the direction of the crate and he went in on his own. I had thought about getting another dog maybe. Sometimes I feel like he needs a buddy and yes you are correct that he does want to be around me, but then usually goes off on his own after I wore him out in playing. I don't want to add to my troubles, but it was something I felt like he would be happier to have a playmate. He likes the piggy, but of course my piggy (Sherman)doesn't play like a dog. Just not sure if an older dog would be better to keep him calm or a younger one to wear him out.

I really really appreciate your ideas and suggestions and am thankful that you read my letter. I'm really trying everything to make him realize that the crate is ok. My routine stays the same.

Pricilla M - Don't get another dog until you solve or have this one where you want. You don't want double jeparody two dogs with problems. And him being a mix pit he may be dog aggressive, but maybe not since he gets along with pig. But like you said the pig may not play or be as aggressive as another dog.

Some Dogs sometimes go throught aniexty attacks but usually that when you leave the house. He seems do it when you are out sight, yet still in the home. The medication is not working and he seems intent on escaping the cage.

Question How does he get out of the crate? Does he force his way through the bars?

You never mentioned if you have Ob trained him? You can't imagine how much better this can make things.

Hello again. You made me chuckle......how does he get out of his crate. He's a Houdini....naw...he first somehow squeezed out the front by pulling on the front bottom of it and the second bottom latch would unloosen and he'd squeeze through the 3-inch space. Don't know how he did it. So I got a double end snap and locked the top and the bottom. Then he figured out how to flip the cage and sneak out the bottom, since there is no tray......smart dog......soooo, then I recently took two pieces of an exercise pen, which is sturdy metal and it fit perfect on the bottom and used those aluminum metal ties that you use to tye kennel fencing. He has not escaped, but I know he must have been panting hard because there was salvia everywhere.

I haven't taken him to Ob training. First its $69 an hour and they said they first have to evaluate him first before he can be put in a class. So what I've been doing is taking my training lunge line which is 40 ft long and taking him to an empty field and practicing sit, stay and come. He does ok with it and picks up on the hand single when I point my finger down to come and sit. Still have to work on the stay thing. I'm pretty good with animals and training them, but he is a tough cookie. I do not play tug of war with this kind of dog. He gets out of control and I don't think it would be a good idea with this kind of breed, so I do alot of throwing his toys and fetching getting him to come here to me. I think this kind of breed is not really a house dog. He kind of reminds me of a junkyard dog. He will lay in the cold wet grass and think nothing of it. I think it is the way we was raised when he was a puppy. If you just tell him bad dog, he will cower away. They didn't treat him very well and were more than willing to give him up so easily when I asked if I could take care of him. I guess when they are done with the puppy stage, people just don't want to have anything to do with them. I know they used to let him run free every once in a while and he was not neutered and didn't have any shots. He tested positive to Lyme's disease. So with me, he's got a good home and has all his shots, etc., and he is a wonderful dog and does listen and does know what he's not to do, but just have to overcome this crate thing. Maybe, I'll have to buy one of Leerburg's training videos. What do you suggest and which one do you think would be good.

Thanks

Video 302 is a OB video going from the learning, correction and proofing stage. I don't recall a video that deals with how to keep and making a dog like being crated or how to cure aniexty attacks, having another trained dog in and around the house would help.

I think somewhere on this board its discussed. Try the question and answer section.

But you have to know that they get along, because if the don't and the pit get out your place is going to rock.

So I would advice against that, now if you had a friend that would let you dog sit there dog for a couple of nights you see how well they got alone. But this is not an indication that he will get alone with the dog you buy.

Good luck in training.

I wonder if anybody else could come up with something.

Priscilla, how much time does your dog spend outside of the crate? And what does he do during that time( ie, sleep, play, sleepunder the bed, etc..)??
Please don't take this the wrong way, but from your description I think the dog feels he is in jail in that crate, and will do all he can to escape.
Why are you not able to leave him out of the crate? Is he destuctive when left alone( how long is he alone?)?Does he have good housebroken manners?
I'm trying to get a clearer picture of his situation.

Ooops, I just reread your 1st post, now I see that he is destroying stuff.....HAd he suffered from any type of trauma or sudden change in your habits, lifestyle, etc???This sudden change is what seems to be a red flag to me....

Can you get a dog sitter? I think the crate is the last place your dog needs to be, and I don't think this will be solved with regular training.

Perhaps you can try to contact Dr. Nicholas Dodman. He is at Tufts University( School of Veterinary Medicine) and is the director of it's Behavior Clinic.( I hope he's still there ) He may be able to offer help or refer you to a closer( not sure where you are)source of help.

You mentioned that your dog is a pit bull terrier mix, and he has alot of experience with them and their disorders.( I would check this out, it can't hurt)

Boy, I'm sleep walking!! Let me clarify what I'm asking about regarding sudden change, I asked if you have experienced any in your life to explain the sudden change in his behavior.....I hope that makes more sense!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I notice that you have been trying some form of medication to try and calm the dog.

We had a VERY hyper large terrier a few years back (we were at the end of our tether!) and approached our naturapath for some alternative assistance.

We ended up giving the dog "Rescue Remedy", which would calm him down in no time. He would go from full on mental boy, to calm boy!.

It's by no means a replacement to ob training etc, but may give you some breathing space (as it did us).

BTW, our hyper boy was also a rescue who was left all day & night in a small yard with no interaction or socialisation.

Just a thought.